#077 Parents Guide to Gifted Kids’ First Years of School Series #2 Part 2 w/ Stephanie Higgs

Today we finish our conversation with gifted educator and differentiation coach Stephanie Higgs, in part 2 of episode 2, in the Parents Guide to Gifted Kids' First Year of School Series.

We talk about… where is the best place to send my gifted child to school and what kinds of qualifications educators might have, when is the best time to start school for gifted kids? What are the misconceptions about gifted learners?

Memorable quote… “

 ”A lot of our listeners are going to be parents, but I'm coming from the educational side, so I love partnering and saying we are a team. First and foremost, we are a team. You as the parent are your child's biggest advocate and you know them best.

I have more experience on the education side and I have some background and some expertise and years of experience there. But you know your child the best. But the best part is we're both huge strong advocates for your kids. So we are a team. 

And so I think that kind of frees up some of that, ‘am I overstepping?’ ‘Am I saying too much?’

But you do know your kid best and you've had… four or five or six years of every minute, every day with this kiddo and a teacher is new to that picture. And so we do have to partner, we have to link... we really have to work together.” - Stephanie Higgs

Bio… 

Stephanie Higgs is a passionate, energetic, and engaging educator whose colleagues describe as radiating contagious joy. She has devoted her entire professional life to education, teaching in two of Tennessee’s three grand divisions. 

Stephanie earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she then taught for six years at a museum magnet school and helped students achieve up to three years’ growth in reading in a single year. 

After relocating to Middle Tennessee, Stephanie became a fourth-grade teacher, which had been her dream since she was a fourth grader herself! In 2019, Stephanie became a gifted educator and differentiation coach, where the staff quickly named her their Teacher of the Year before being named a region-level semi-finalist for Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Soon after, Stephanie was honoured with the TAG (Tennessee Association for the Gifted) Horizon Award, which is given to a gifted educator demonstrating promise and leadership in the field. 

Later, Stephanie was named the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) Teacher of the Year. Stephanie recently graduated with an additional graduate degree from Tennessee State University in Instructional Leadership and now serves on the executive board as secretary for the Tennessee Association for the Gifted.

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More…

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Episode Resources

• Stephanie Higgs:

• Instagram: @littlemissgifted

• TikTok: @littlemissgiftedteacher

• YouTube: @littlemissgiftedteacher

• Linktree: @littlemissgifted

• Tennessee Association for the Gifted

• AAEGT - State Associations

• #028 Why is Self-Concept so crucial for gifted 2E students in the early years?

• James & Susie - An allegory about what happens to smart kids who skate through elementary school, and don't get opportunities to develop persistence, grit, and the true self-confidence that comes from knowing how to tackle a genuine challenge.

• Andy McNair Resource for Educators

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Hit play and let’s get started!